Lesson 04 — The Fruit-Bearing Principle

University Objectives… (Reviewed)
_________ the Word!
___________ the Word!
_________ the Word!

Semper Vivus: __________________   ____________

“This __________ is ___________!”

“University” Defined:
“An institution of ________________ at the highest ____________.”

Principle Four (of 12)
The __________-_______________ Principle

I can find ultimate purpose in life only by learning the essentials of depending on the Holy Spirit in all I do to live a life of fruitful fulfillment in Christ. I must cultivate my Spirit-led life by spending devoted times daily in prayer and the study of God’s Word. I hereby resolve to choose this course of action daily, and in God’s power I consider it done.

Primary Passage…
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. — John 15:7-8 (NIV)

Foundational Premise…

“Premise” Defined:
 “A proposition upon which an ___________________ is based or from which a ___________________ is drawn.”

Premise…
Dependence on the Holy Spirit in all ______________ of the believer’s __________ is essential to his or her producing lasting ____________ that brings great glory to _____________ and a continuing personal ______________________.

Scripture:
If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. — John 15:7-8 (AMPC)

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you. — John 15:16 (AMPC)

THE FOUR LAWS FOR FRUITFUL FULFILLMENT

1. Law One for Fruitful Fulfillment:
Spiritual _______________ is the direct result of God’s ______________ working unhindered in the life of the ___________________.

Scripture:
But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].— Galatians 5:22-23 (AMPC)

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. — Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT)

Bearing Fruit — Ninefold
1. Love (A ______________ Spirit)
2. Joy (A __________________ Spirit)
3. Peace (A ___________ Spirit)
4. Patience (A ______________________ Spirit)
5. Kindness (A ________________ Spirit)
6. Goodness (A _______________ Spirit)
7. Faithfulness (A _________________ Spirit)
8. Gentleness (A _________________ Spirit)
9. Self-control (A ____________________ Spirit)

2. Law Two for Fruitful Fulfillment:
Spiritual _____________________ is determined by how a believer develops his or her personal ______________, spirit and _________________.

Becoming the Best That You Can Be in Jesus!
(The Three Focuses for Fulfillment)

A. First Focus: _____________
(My ___________)

Scripture:
I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also. — Philippians 3:13-15 (AMPC)

B. Second Focus: _____________
(My __________________)

Scripture:
Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit. — Psalm 32:2 (AMPC)

Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]… — Ephesians 4:22-23 (AMPC)

C. Third Focus: __________________
(My ______________)

Scripture:
Great gifts means great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities. — Luke 12:48b (MSG)

Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness. — Romans 12:6-8 (AMPC)

Talk Back Time: (Share what you’ve learned with your small group.)
As you look at the list of nine qualities described as being “fruit” produced by the Holy Spirit, which of the nine do you feel would most benefit you at this season in your life? What do you think most hinders the Holy Spirit from producing fruit in the life of the average believer?

Pray Back Time: (Pray what you’ve learned in your small group.)
Verbalize in prayer what you feel is your most significant “unreached” goal in life at the present time. Pray also that God will use your gifts (special abilities) to help you achieve any of these unreached goals. Be as specific as possible as you pray.

THE FOUR LAWS FOR FRUITFUL FULFILLMENT
Part 2 (continued)

Laws Three and Four

3. Law Three for Fruitful Fulfillment:
Spiritual ________________ is allowed by God to help the believer overcome negative __________________ of either personality or ____________________.

Scripture:
While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. — Hebrews 12:10-11 (MSG)

Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. — Deuteronomy 8:1-2 (NLT)

The Advantages of Adversity

Scripture:
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. — Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)

The Threefold Fruit of Adversity
(Romans 5:4, NKJV)

A. _______________________ “A steady _____________________ in adhering to a course of ______________.”

B. _____________________
“Moral or ethical _________________.”

C. ___________
“A wish or _______________ accompanied by a confident expectation of its _____________________.”

4. Law Four for Fruitful Fulfillment:
Spiritual ____________________ is an attitude of the mind that a believer both ________________ and __________________ on a daily basis through a  determined plan of ______________.

Scripture:
I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. — Philippians 4:10-12 (MSG)

Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. — Psalm 1:1-2 (AMPC)

Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. — James 1:12 (AMPC)

Seven Guidelines for Spiritual Happiness

A. ______________ your __________ daily to the purpose of glorifying Jesus Christ.

Scripture:
So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God. — 1 Corinthians 10:31 (AMPC)

B. _______________ time daily to read and meditate on God’s __________.

Scripture:
He [God] said to them, Set your [minds and] hearts on all the words which I command you this day, that you may command them to your children, that they may be watchful to do all the words of this law. — Deuteronomy 32:46 (AMPC)

C. __________________ a daily _________________ with a family ________________ or friend.

Scripture:
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. — Romans 12:10 (NLT)

D. Actively pursue regular ___________________ with other _________________.

Scripture:
So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgment of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching. — Hebrews 10:23-25 (AMPC)

E. Be involved in a daily _______________ that brings you personal ______________________.

Scripture:
Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord. — Proverbs 8:34-35 (AMPC)

F. Do something _________ for someone _______________.

Scripture:
So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]. — Galatians 6:10 (AMPC)

G. Get rid of all ________________ daily.

Scripture:
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. — Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. — Mark 11:25 (NLT)

Look up these passages in your Bible, underline key phrases or put a box around them. Put a number “4” in the margin of your Bible by that passage and circle it. Then, go back to your primary passage (John 15:7-8) and in the margin write these verses beside it or at the bottom of the page. In this way you will begin to cross-reference your Bible.

• Proverbs 11:30-31 
• Proverbs 12:12-14
• Isaiah 3:10
• Jeremiah 17:7-8
• Matthew 7:15-20
• Mark 4:13-20
• John 4:35-38
• John 15:5-8
• John 15:15-16
• Romans 7:4-6
• Galatians 5:19-23
• Philippians 1:8-11
• Colossians 1:4-6
• Hebrews 12:7-11
• Hebrews 13:15
• James 3:13-18
• 2 Corinthians 9:10
• Galatians 6:9
• Psalm 72:3
• Proverbs 10:31
• Proverbs 12:14
• Proverbs 13:2
• Isaiah 27:6
• Isaiah 32:16-17
• Hosea 10:12
• Hosea 14:2
• Matthew 3:7-9
• Matthew 21:42-43
• Ephesians 5:8-10
• Philippians 1:9-11
• 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Principle Four Reviewed

I can find ultimate purpose in life only by learning the essentials of depending on the Holy Spirit in all I do to  lead me to a life of fruitful fulfillment in Christ. I must cultivate my Spirit-led life by spending devoted times daily in prayer and to the study of God’s Word. I hereby resolve to choose this course of  action daily, and in God’s power I consider it done.

The Fruit-Bearing Principle

Primary Passage…
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. — John 15:7-8 (NIV)

Talk Back Time: (Share what you’ve learned with your small group.)
Discuss some of the ways a follower of Christ might glorify God on a daily basis. Why do you think regular fellowship with other believers is so vital to the spiritual growth of the follower of Jesus?

Pray Back Time: (Pray what you’ve learned in your small group.)
Focus your prayers on any specific areas of conflict or adversity you are facing (or for someone you know who is facing such adversity). Pray for yourself (or that other person or persons), claiming perseverance, character, and hope as the result of that adversity as promised in Romans 5:1-5.